Can Arteta and co. continue their steady progress?
Premier League leaders Arsenal will host slow starters Atletico de Madrid at the Emirates, as the UEFA Champions League returns for game-week three. When the two contrasting styles of play between Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone meet, there are bound to be fireworks. Can the North Londoners seal another victory and inch closer to the top of the table?
Arsenal have made a strong start to their Champions League campaign. A pair of 2-0 victories against Athletic Bilbao and Olympiacos has set the Gunners up perfectly in the table. While they are also in a commanding position in the league, their opponents cannot say the same. Atleti failed to notch a win in their opening three La Liga fixtures, and lost to Liverpool in their UCL opener.
Yet, Los Colchoneros have won three of their last four match-ups in the Spanish top flight – including a roaring 5-2 statement victory against regional rivals Real Madrid. They also won their most recent Champions League encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt by 5-1. This sets things up for a mouth-watering battle on Tuesday night in London.
Considering the history of Atletico Madrid, betting on 3.5+ goals would be tomfoolery. However, Arsenal’s attacking prowess paired with the defensive frailties of Simeone and co. means that it is a potentially game-changing bet. Moreover, Atleti also possess a potent threat in the final third with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann. While both sides are averaging around 2 goals per game in the league, the Spanish giants have already smashed 7 goals across two games in the UCL. This is why the +215 odds for more than 3.5 goals is a smart choice.
Arsenal is averaging 9 corners from their last two Premier League fixtures. It is no hidden fact that the Gunners love their set pieces, and will be looking to exploit Atletico de Madrid’s structural defects on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the likes of Alvarez and Griezmann can also deliver accurate balls into the box when Rojiblancos break on the counter, making the 10.5 corners seem like a good option with +125 odds.
While both teams can get into a heated duel from time to time, Atletico Madrid in particular will not back down from a challenge or two. The La Liga title contenders recognize that Arteta’s men will have more of the possession, and they will need to get under their skin in order to force a result. Although Atleti has been hit with just 3 yellow cards and 1 red card in their last three matches, a big game brings about a different side to them (17 fouls and 5 yellow cards vs Real Madrid).
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Top Goalscorer Odds for Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Here are the odds for the first goalscorer and any time goalscorer for the match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (via BetMGM):
Player
Team
First Goalscorer Odds
To Score Odds
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal
+310
+123
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
+430
+190
Julian Alvarez
Atletico Madrid
+600
+260
Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal
+700
+310
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal
+700
+310
Viktor Gyokeres has the best chances to score first with +310 odds and +123 to score at some point in the game. This showcases his immense ability to find the back of the net. Bukayo Saka is not far behind with odds of +430/+190. Argentina marksman Julian Alvarez is the solitary representative of Atletico Madrid in the Top-5, with odds of +600 to score first and +260 to score anytime. Gabriel Martinelli (+700/+310) and Eberechi Eze (+700/+310) complete the list.
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Top Assist Odds for Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Here are the odds for anytime assist in the match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (via BetMGM):
Player
Team
Moneyline
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal
+210
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
+240
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal
+350
Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal
+390
Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal
+420
Arsenal dominates the pre-match market in terms of assists. Key names such as Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri have been given favorable odds on the money line. Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez (+430) and Alexander Sorloth (+600) are the most likely assist providers for Atletico de Madrid.
A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.
My message to the readers is not to be shy to express themselves – regardless of whether it is playing, talking or writing about sport. And if you’re a fan of Roger Federer, Lionel Messi and/or Stephen Curry – I’m your guy.
